Veronica spicata
Ähriger Speedwell ( Veronica spicata subsp. Spicata )
Ähriger Speedwell ( Veronica spicata ), also called Blue Ähriger loosestrife or ear - blue loosestrife, is a flowering plant in the family Plantain Family ( Plantaginaceae ). This rare plant species grows on dry - lean locations in Eurasia.
- 7.1 Notes and references
Description
Vegetative characteristics
When aged men prize is perennial herbaceous plant, the plant height of 15 to 40, rarely up to 80 centimeters reached. The upright, glandular - hairy stems have in the upper part projecting horizontally or upwardly curved hairs ( trichomes ). The obtuse - lanceolate, hairy stem leaves sit against constantly on the stems and are cut notched on the edge, above and entire.
Generative features
The flowering period extends from June to September. In the eye-catching, long aged men inflorescences many flowers are borne. The flower stalks are shorter than the bracts and have glandular hairs. The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic with a double perianth. The calyxes are hairy. The light blue to dark blue - purple petals are fused funnel- shaped, the corolla tube is longer than wide. Are formed capsule fruits.
Differentiation of the subspecies
When Veronica spicata subsp subspecies. spicata ( in Germany this is the only subspecies occurring ) the leaves are dull, the corolla lobes more or less flat and the color is a deep dark blue. The plants remain relatively small with a maximum of around 30 centimeters. When Veronica spicata subsp subspecies. orchid ( which occurs, for example in Austria ) the leaves are sparsely hairy and shiny leathery, the lower corolla lobes are spirally rotated and the color is a light blue ( to purple ). These plants are significantly higher than the nominate race with 30 to 80 centimeters.
Ecology
The spiked speedwell is a Hemikryptophyt and a half rosette plant or herbaceous Chamaephyt.
Pollination is by bees relatives, moths and Diptera. Neighbor pollination is possible.
The capsule fruit act as wind and animal shakers. The seeds are light to germinate. Fruit ripening begins in September.
Occurrence, location and hazard
The distribution area of Veronica spicata is Eurasian- continental, subsp subspecies Veronica spicata. orchid temperate continental - ostmediterran. As localities are Denmark, Finland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Hungary, the former Czechoslovakia, the former Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ciscaucasien, Dagestan, the western part of Eastern Siberia, Western Siberia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, the Baltic republics, Moldova, the European part of Russia, the Ukraine (including Crimea ), and northern Xinjiang specified.
In Germany, the main distribution point is located in the northeast German lowlands; In addition, this species is very patchy spread in warm lowlands or missing entirely.
In Austria, the spiked speedwell in the Pannonian region occurs scattered on, otherwise rare to very rare. The deposits extend to all states except Vorarlberg. In Salzburg, only fickle occurrences are known.
The spiked speedwell grows in sunny dry and nutrient-poor grasslands, on gravel, sand dunes, rocky heads and hem lights, heat privileged bushes. The sites are characterized by dry, nutrient-poor, base -rich, often low in calcium, humus-rich rock or sandy soils. In the phytosociological system Ähriger prize is a Klassencharakterart the fescue steppes and brome - grass ( Festuca Brometea ); the subspecies orchid preference is alternately dry moor grass and semi- arid grassland companies.
The way Veronica spicata is after the Federal Species Protection Ordinance " special protection " and is classified for example, in the German Red List as "vulnerable".
System
The first publication of Veronica spicata was in 1753 by Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, Volume 1, page 10. Veronica spicata L. are synonyms for: Pseudolysimachion spicatum (L.) Opiz, Veronica barrelieri Schult, Veronica hololeuca Juz, Veronica orchid Crantz. ..
Veronica spicata belongs to the subgenus Pseudolysimachium in the genus Veronica. The genus speedwell ( Veronica ) now belongs to the family of the plantain family ( Plantaginaceae ); earlier to the family of figwort family ( Scrophulariaceae ) or Veronicaceae.
Use
Some varieties of spiked speedwell be used in temperate latitudes as ornamentals in parks and gardens.
Possibility of confusion
Note also the relatively similar related species Langblättriger speedwell ( Veronica longifolia) Syn: Langblättriger blue loosestrife ( Pseudolysimachion longifolium ), although moist locations preferred.